It's time to save Earl a third time. The second stage of the 2012 Nationals is called 'Saving Earl III' and sponsored by GlockTriggers.com. The stage was designed by Frank Glover and Toni Dandreamatteo, who apparently aren't big fans of this Earl guy because they keep putting him in harm's way.

CSO: Your CSO for this stage will be Kenneth Burgess.

SCENARIO: You and your buddy Earl are taking a shortcut through an alley, when three guys jump into the alley and shoot Earl. As you encounter these threats and move to get Earl to safety, more bad guys appear.

PROCEDURE: Start holstered and loaded with 6 rounds only standing at P1. At signal, engage T1-T3 with 2 rounds each while advancing toward Earl. While dragging Earl to safety, engage T4-T6 with 2 rounds each. From cover at P2 engage PP1 until it falls & T-7 with 2 rounds.

It's an 'Auto Ambush' on stage 1 of this year's IDPA National Championships. Designed by Frank Glover, this stage has you in a bad part of town thanks to your GPS. The six guys approaching you don't seem too friendly. Looks like it's time to turn that mini-van into a war wagon.

CSO: Your CSO for this stage will be Kenneth Burgess.

SCENARIO: Your GPS has sent you through a bad part of town when a gang of thieves think you look like a victim because you are driving a mini-van.

PROCEDURE: Start loaded and holstered sitting in van, left hand on steering wheel, right hand touching GPS. At signal, engage T1-T6 with 2 rounds each in tactical priority.

Nobody interrupts you when you're grilling. Nobody! But that seems to be exactly what stage designer Frank Glover has in store for you on stage 15, 'On My New Deck.' Sponsored by Remington Arms Company, the Big Green Machine of the firearms industry, this is all about you facing off against the Purple Gang...and they don't stand a chance.

CSO: Your CSO for this stage will be Rodrigo Carvajal.

SCENARIO: You are trying out your new grill on your newly completed deck when you are attacked by “Little Willy” and his Purple gang.

Final Stage Reveals Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 19-20, During The Match

Sponsored by Cheaper Than Dirt! and designed by Frank Glover, stage 7 is called 'The Warehouse' and for good reason. Just like in a real warehouse where there are plenty of hiding places the bad guys on this stage will drop out of sight on you if you aren't fast. Thankfully though, you'll have the opportunity to pick-up two of them from another shooting position.

CSO: Your CSO for this stage will be Ron Rhoden.

SCENARIO: You are working security at a warehouse when you confront thieves that have broken into the building.

PROCEDURE: Start at P1, loaded and holstered, facing visible targets with hand on gun. At signal, engage T1-T3 with 2 rounds each (T1-T2 will be visible later, T3 is disappearing). Then move to P2 and engage T4-T6 in tactical priority. T1–T2 will have their heads visible from here if you need to re-engage them.

Next Stage Reveal Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 8:00pm ET

All targets disappear. That's the first thing you need to know about this staged designed by Chris Roper and sponsored by Brownells. The second? It's all about choices, which is why this stage is called "What to Do?"

CSO: Your CSO for this stage will be Chris Roper.

SCENARIO: Sometimes there are too many choices. Or are there?

PROCEDURE: Start seated at desk with palms down on top where indicated. Gun is in one desk drawer downloaded to 6 rounds and reloads in another on opposite side. Step box is under desk at your feet.

Next Stage Reveal Monday, Sept. 17 at 8:00pm ET

Designed by our good friends from IDPA Philippines, many of you will recognize this stage, called Room 469, from the 2011 IDPA World Shoot. This stage is sponsored by Comp-Tac Victory Gear and is all about what goes wrong back at the hotel after the match. Let's hope for those of you competing in the 2012 National Championships this is all about what goes right.

CSO: Your CSO for this stage will be Cindy Bowser.

SCENARIO: You are just returning to the hotel after the match when you hear an odd noise from the room next to yours. You notice the door ajar and as you start to push it open you hear a slide being racked behind the door, but it’s too late to stop.

PROCEDURE: Start loaded and holstered standing at P1 with strong hand on the X. At signal push door open and engage T1-T3. Move to your room and engage T4-T6. Move to adjoining room and engage T7-T8. All targets receive a minimum of 2 rounds each.

Next Stage Reveal Sunday, Sept. 16 at 8:00pm ET

We wrap up DOWN ZERO's preview of the 2012 New England Regional IDPA Championship with the 12th and final stage of the match, the club themed stage 'Disco Fever.' Designed by Match Director Michael Joffe of MetroWest Tactical, this stage features 16 rounds scoring the best two on each of the 8 paper targets. Concealment is required, however, no bonus points for wearing a white polyester leisure suit.

SCENARIO: You are enjoying a (soft!) drink in a club when hell breaks loose. The only way out lies across the dance floor…

START POSITION: Seated at P1 back against the chair, both hands on the table, a drink in one hand. Firearm loaded to division capacity, holstered. Ammo carriers stowed on the body.

PROCEDURE: Stand up, draw, and engage targets T1-T3 with two rounds each from P1. Advance to P2 and engage T4 using cover. Advance to P3in the open and engage disappearing targets T5-T6, proceed to Cover position P3 and engage T7-T8.

Designed by the folks at MetroWest Tactical, Stage 11 calls for the best 3 hits on paper with 6 IDPA targets, and 2 non-threats thrown in for good measure. Did somebody say something about a flashlight?

Stage 10 is called 'Mind the Gap' and was designed by David Ritchie with MetroWest Tactical. Featuring 6 IDPA targets, 1 popper and 1 non-threat, you have to be where you have to be, all while minding that gap.